Brazilian law provides a more severe punishment for domestic violence against women under the “Lei Maria da Penha” (the Maria da Penha Law), Law No 11.340/2006, which concerns physical, psychological, sexual, patrimonial and moral violence against women of any age. The law also provides protection for female victims of domestic violence by offering urgent protective measures and referring them to care, assistance, monitoring and shelter services, if necessary.

What to do in the case of violence:
- Go to the nearest “Pronto Socorro” (first aid station) and report the assault while being treated.
- Fill out a “Boletim de Ocorrência” (Incident Report) at a “Delegacia de Polícia” (police station). There are “Delegacias Especializadas em Atendimento à Mulher” (Special Women's Police stations) staffed by trained professionals who are specialized in working with female victims of violence. However, the incident report can be filed at any police station or with the Public Defender.

When you file your complaint, you must inform the police whether you require any protection and also whether you are interested in initiating criminal proceedings against whoever assaulted you. Video or audio recordings or photographs are very useful in this regard. The judge must make a decision within 48 hours on whether to grant protection measures, which may be extended to protect your children and/or dependents of the woman.

Services available by telephone:
- 180: “Central de Atendimento à Mulher” (Women’s Helpline) (Free, 24-hour service that provides support and advises women who are victims of violence).
- 181: Crime-stoppers hotline / 190: "Polícia Militar" (Military Police)
- 100: National Crime-stoppers Hotline or Human Rights Hotline
For more information visit: http://www.spm.gov.br .

Brasília
Delegacia Especial de Atendimento à Mulher (Special Women’s Police Station)
Address: EQS, 204/205 - Asa Sul
Telephone: (61) 3244-9566 / 3244-3400

Manaus
Useful Addresses
Serviços de Atendimento a Vitimas de Violência Sexual (Assistance for Victims of Sexual Violence):
Rua Kampuã, 108, Cidade Nova II
Telephone: (92)2123-2911

Maternidade Moura Tapajós
Av. Brasil, Compensa
Telephone: (92)3671-3332

Services for women and minors
Specialised Chamber Maria da Penha (women)
Menescal Av. Grande Circular, s/n, Jorge Teixeira. (92)2127-7553

Conselhos Tutelares (Child Protection Agencies)
Av. Andre Araujo, 119 – Aleixo. (92)3611-5208
Rua São Bento, 70 – São Jorge. (92)3671-2694

Specialised Chamber for matters concerning Children and Young Persons
Av. Paraíba, s/n, Bairro São Francisco. (92)3303-5080
Delegacia da Infancia e da Juventude (Office for Children’s and Young Persons’ Affairs)

Rio de Janeiro
Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher (Specialised Women’s Police Station)
Address: Visconde do Rio Branco, 12
Telephone: 3399-3370/ 3399-3373/ 3399-3375

Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher
Address: Av Cesário de Melo, 4138 - Campo Grande
Telephone: (21) 2419-0264

Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher
Address: Rua Maria Teresa, lotes 8, 9 e 10 - 2º andar – Campo Grande
Localizada sobre a 35ª Delegacia de Polícia
Telephone: (021) 3399-5710 and 3399-5718

Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher
Address: Rua Silvino Montenegro, 1, 3º andar - Gamboa
Telephone: (21) 2233-0113

Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher
Address: Rua Tenente José Dias, 344 - Caxias
Telephone: (021)3399-3710/ 3399-3708 and 2671-7757

Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher
Address: Av. Retiro da Imprensa, 800 - Belford Roxo
Telephone: 3399-7580/ 3399-3980/ 3399-3981/ 3399-3982 and 3399-3550

Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher
Address: Rua Henriqueta, 197 - Largo do Tanque - Jacarepaguá
Telephone: 3399-3980/ 3392-1102/ 3399-7580/ 3399-7582 and 3392-2186

Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher
Address: Rua General Niltom Fontoura, 540 – Bairro N. S. das graças
Telephone: 3399-9140/ 3399-9142/ 3399-9144 and 3399-9145

São Paulo
1ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher (1st Women's Police Station)
Address: Rua Bittencourt Rodrigues, 200 - Sé
Telephone: (11) 3239-3328

2ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Av. Onze de Junho, 89, 2º andar - Vila Clementino
Telephone: (11) 5084-2579

3ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Av. Corifeu de Azevedo Marques, 430, 2º andar - Jaguaré
Telephone: (11) 3268-4664

4ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Av. Itaberaba, 731, 1º andar - Freguesia do Ó
Telephone: (11) 3976-2908

5ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Rua Dr. Corinto Baldoíno Costa, 400 - Parque São Jorge
Telephone: (11) 293-3816

6ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Rua Sargento Manoel Barbosa da Silva, 115 - Campo Grande
Telephone: (11) 3246-1895

7ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Rua Dríades, 50, 2º andar - Vila Jacuí
Telephone: (11) 6297-1362

8ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Av. Osvaldo Valle Cordeiro, 190 - Jardim Marília
Telephone: (11) 6742-1701

9ª Delegacia de Polícia de Defesa da Mulher
Address: Av. Menotti Laudisio, 286 - Pirituba
Telephone: (11)3974-8890

For more information about other cities that have women's police stations, please see: http://www.cnj.jus.br.

There are many ways in which children and adolescents can be victims of violence or abuse. It can be physical (such as beating, burning or biting) or psychological (insults, humiliation or intimidation). Psychological abuse can give rise to consequences that are not obvious - although it does not leave physical marks, it can cause considerable emotional suffering.

Abuse can also be the result of carelessness, abandonment or negligence (such as neglecting to feed or provide treatment for a child) and of sexual abuse. Child labor is one of the most common violations of children’s rights, which is not permissible under any circumstances.

In Brazil there are two mechanisms for protecting the elderly, the “Estatuto do Idoso” (Statute of the Elderly) and the “Política Nacional de Saúde do Idoso” (National Health Policy for the Elderly). It is important that the elderly must not be allowed to suffer discrimination of any kind and that they must be supported by their children in their old age. The elderly have the right to:
- Receive comprehensive health care through the public health network;
- Receive treatment and be provided with prostheses, wheel chairs, glasses, hearing aids etc.;
- Receive priority treatment in public and private facilities.

The trafficking of migrants involves encouraging the illegal entry of a person into a country of which she/he is not a citizen or a permanent resident with the aim of obtaining, directly or indirectly, a financial or material compensation.

IMPORTANT: If you suspect someone may be committing this crime and luring people as described above, you should report it! You could be saving someone’s life. Do not let anyone exploit you just because you are in a foreign country without documents. Go to your country’s Consulate or Embassy, apply for a duplicate passport, and report it!

You can report it by ringing the crime-stoppers hotline. The service is anonymous, free and available 24 hours a day. Telephone: 181.